Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

Titus looked toward Yamiansk Fortress with a somber expression.


Five minutes ago, the fortress's garrison had raised the battle-to-the-death flag, indicating that the Green-skinned Orcs had already broken through.


According to wartime regulations, it was now time for a Combat Mage to deliver the Mother of Bombs—the fortress was untenable, and to prevent the Green-skinned Orcs from occupying it in the future, this colossal bomb had to be used to demolish the fortress.


"Sir, let the brothers lead one more charge," a blood-soaked War Banner Bearer knelt before him.


His battle group had been fighting from six until eight forty and had already lost more than half of its men. Yet, the Green-skinned Orcs seemed endless. Their ammunition had long been exhausted, and the old brothers, armed with axes and hammers, had chiseled a hole through the ranks of the Green-skinned Orcs.


But they ultimately failed to break through the wall formed by the Orcs.


Chapter 38: Ash